Cattle-guard.



No. 765,704. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

H. HAMEL.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

By :6 i

M Attorneys PATENTED JULY 26, 1904,

\ H. HAMEL.

CATTLE GUARD. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1908.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Witnesses:

Attorneys Patented July 26, 1904:. V

PATENT OFFICE.

HORMIDAS HAMEL, OF GRANBY, CANADA.

CATTLE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 765,704, dated July 26,1904.

Application filed November 9, 1903. Serial No. 180,288- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HoRivnDAs HAMEL, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Granby, county of Shefford, Province of Quebec,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCattle-Guards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to cattle-guards; and its object is to provide adevice of this kind which is simple in construction, but at the sametime effective in operation.

The principal object has been to provide a guard which will normally liein repose in the bed of the track, but which will be automaticallyelevated in order to prevent the passing of cattle along the roadway.

In its general construction the invention contemplates the use ofcertain gates or frames attached to a rock-shaft, and these framesnormally lie in a horizontal position in the trackbed. A depressibleplatform, which is arranged in conjunction with the rock-shaft referredto, operates automatically by the weight of cattle standing upon thesame to rotate the rock-shaft, and this effects a vertical movement ofthe frames, which then as sume a substantially erect position.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, tobe more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in theclaims.

In the drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure l is a planof the cattleguard, showing a portion of .a railway-track to which thesame has been applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section takensubstantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a crosssection takensubstantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail Viewrepresenting in side elevation a head which is used in attaching thegates to the rock-shaft referred to above. The rock-shaft is shown insection.

Fig. 5 is also a detail view representing in side elevation a hub usedin connection with the platform construction.

Throughout the drawings and specification the same numerals of referencedenote parts.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents the rails of atrack laid upon suitable sleepers or cross-ties 2, as shown. At thepoint where the cattle-guard is to be applied the track-bed is clearedaway to form an open space 3 between the ties, as shown, and in thisspace a depressible platform 4 is arranged. This platform 4 consists ofa main section 5 and side sections 6, the said main section beingdisposed between the rails, as shown, and the side sections beyond therails. These sections consist of aplurality of bars 7 which arepreferably of the usual triangular form and disposed longitudinally withrespect to the rails, and, as shown, these sections are constructed upona main beam or stringer 8, which passes transversely of the trackbeneath the rails. In conjunction with each section, in addition to themain stringer 8, there are end stringers 9, to which the bars attach attheir inner extremity remote from the crossing. At their oppositeextremities the bars 7 are connected by transverse bolts 10, which passthrough thimbles or distance-pieces 11, disposed between the adjacentbars, as shown.

Transversely in the bed of the track beneath the rails 1 there isdisposed a rock-shaft 12, the same being rotatably mounted in eyes 13,which have threaded shanks 14., which screw into the adjacent verticalface of one of the ties 3, as shown, and this rock-shaft constitutes anaxis of rotation for gates 15 and 16 and also constitutes an axis ofrotation for the platform 4. In order to attach the platform 4 to therock-shaft eye-bolts 17 are employed, there being preferably two ofthese in connection with each of the sections of the platform, asindicated.

The gates 15 and 16 are disposed in a manner corresponding with thesections of the platform. Each gate consists of a frame 18 ofrectangular or square form, and these frames support wire mesh 19 orsimilar material. These frames have threaded extensions 20, which attachin sockets 21, projecting laterally from heads 22, which heads arerigidly attached to the rock-shaft 12 by means of setlike screws 23, asshown. As the rock-shaft 12 is depressed somewhat below the upper faceof the ties, the sockets 21 are preferably offset upwardly, asshown.

The platform 4 is supported upon frames 24 and 25, which are disposed inthe space 3 beneath the platform, as shown. The frame 24 is disposedbeneath the main section 5 of the platform, and the frames 25 aredisposed beneath the side sections 6. The frame 24 is substantiallyV-shaped in plan, the extremities of the legs of the frame beingprovided with lateral extensions 26, which are received by eyebolts 27,which eyebolts are attached in the face of one of the ties 3 in such amanner as to enable the inner extremity which lies adjacent to therock-shaft 12 to swing downwardly, as will be readily understood. Theframes 25 are preferably of the form shown, their extremities beingmounted in eyebolts 27, similar to the eyebolts 27, already described.These frames 24 and 25 are preferably bowed in form, as shown, and arelocated in such a mannerthat the beam 8 aforesaid rests upon them,'asshown, supporting the entire platform 4 in a substantially horizontalposition. The frames 25, like the frame 24, are adapted to swingdownwardly at their inner extremities.

To the inner extremities of the frames chains 28 are attached, whichchains pass upwardly and over the peripheries of the hubs 29, which hubsare of preferably the form shown and attached rigidly to the rock-shaft12 by means of eyebolts 30, which constitute set-screws for thispurpose, and also afford means for attaching the extremities of thechains 28 thereto, as illustrated. The peripheries of these hubs areeccentric with respect to the axis of the shaft12, so that they presentsomewhat the same appearance as a cam, and their peripheral faces areprovided with grooves 31 to receive the chains. It shouldbe understoodthat the chains 28 are for the purpose of enabling the rock-shaft 12 tobe rotated by the depression of the frames 24 and 25, produced bydepressing the platform 4, and it should be stated that the hubs areattached to the shaft 12, so that normally their centers would bedisposed toward the frames with which they connect, from whicharrangement it follows that the radius to the point of application ofthe force of the chains is large. It should be understood from thisarrangement also that as the frames are depressed they at first exert agreater rotative force upon the shaft- 12 than they do at a laterperiod. As the shaft rotates of course the gates and 16 swing upwardlytoward a substantially erect position from their normally horizontalposition in the bed of the track. The advantage of the arrangementdescribed in connection with the hubs 29 should now appear, as it shouldbe readily understood that it would require a greater force to initiatean upward movement of the gates than to continue this movement after thegates had moved considerably toward their erect position.

It being understood that when an animal stands upon the platform 4 thegates 15 and 16 will fly up into a substantially vertical position, itshould now be stated that arrangement is made for locking the gatesagainst return as long as the animal remains upon the platform. For thispurpose in connection with each of the gates there is a lockingrod orhook-rod 32, the same being rotatably attached at 33 to the outer orupper members of the frames 18 of the gates, as shown. These rods 32normally lie horizontally upon the upper sides of the gates, and theirextremities project beyond the position of the rock-shaft 12 andoverhang the adjacent edge of the platform 4. At these extremities hooks34 are provided, the same being preferably of the form shown, which willbe described more fully hereinafter. These hooks are disposed just abovespaces 35, lying between adjacent individuals of the bars 7, and itshould be understood that as the gates move toward an erect position thehooks 34 pass downwardly into the space beneath the platform. It shouldalso appear that they are located so that they pass, respectively,between thelegs of the frames 24 and 25, disposed beneath the platform.The legs of the frames 24 and are connected by catch-bars 36, which aredisposed transversely with respect to the rails, and as the hooks 34pass downwardly they pass over and beyond these catch-bars 36, as willbe readily understood, and in the spaces 35 there are providedtransverse guide-bars 37, which as the movement of the rods progressesdeflect the same downwardly and inwardly in such a manner as to bringthe hooks 34 beneath the catch-bars 36, as indicated in the dotted linesin Fig. 2.

As indicated most clearly in the dotted lines in Fig. 2, each hookcomprises a bight 38, adapted to receive its corresponding catchbar 36,this portion of the hook being formed by bending the extremity thereoftoward the catch-bar, as will appear. Beyond this bight the extremity ofthe hook is turned to form a lip or tail 39. The hooks 34 are intendedto prevent the gates from being returned by lateral pressure upon them,and hence it would be impossible for an animal to depress the gates, orone of them, by leaning upon the same. However, if the platform shouldbecome elevated, the consequent vertical movement of the catch-barswould operate to release the hooks and allow the gates to return.

In order to return the gates and to normally maintain them in adepressed relation, a helical spring is employed, the same being disposed about the rock-shaft 12, near the middle portion thereof. Anextremity 41 of this ITO spring rests upon the upper side of theplatform 4, and'the other extremity is rigidly attached to the shaft.

It should be observed again in connection with the hooks 34 that thelips 39 are no more abrupt than necessary, from which arrangement itfollows that a slight vertical movement of the catch-bars is sufficientto release the hooks.

In the operation of the cattle-guard described above it should be statedthat the cattle in order to pass along the track will have to pass uponthe platform 4. The weight of an animal upon the platform woulddepressit, rotating the same about the axis of the rock-shaft 12. Therotation of the platform would in turn depress the frames 24 and 25,disposed therebeneath, and these frames, through the medium ofthe-chains 28, would rotate the hubs 29 and bring about a rotation ofthe rock-shaft 12 in such a direction as would operate to move the gates15 and 16 toward an erect position. As thegates move toward their erectposition the hooked extremities of the hook-bars would pass down- Warlybeneath the platform and be guided automatically so as to engage withthe catchbars on the frames 24 and 25, in this way looking the gatesagainst movement as long as the platform remains depressed. Upon theremoval of the weight of the animal from the platform the same wouldimmediately rise and allow the hook-rods 32 to be released, whereuponthe gates would return automatically to their normally depressedposition by reason of the spring 40 and their weight. It should beunderstood that after the return movement of the gates has beeninitiated their Weight would operate to assist their return.

It should be understood that in the winter season the cattle-guard willbe removed. This may be effected in a simple manner by drawing therock-shaft 12 longitudinally out of its bearings after having-firstdisengaged the gatesections therefrom. After the rock-shaft has beenwithdrawn the gate-sections can be removed, as well as the platform, andafter the platform has been removed the frames 24 and 25, beneaththeplatform, can also be removed.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise form shown, for many of the details maybe changed in form orposition without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention,and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as areincluded within the scope of the following claims or of mechanicalequivalents to the structures set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

1. In acattle-guard, in combination, a rockshaft, gates carried therebyand normallydisposed in the bed of the track, a depressible platform,mechanism connecting said platform with said rock-shaft adapted to swingsaid gates to a substantially erect position, hookrods carried by saidgates, means for engaging the same so as to lock said gates in a sub--stantially erect position, and means forcontrolling said last meansbysaid platform.

2. In a cattle-guard, in combination, a rockshaft, aswinging gate rigidtherewith and normally disposed in the track-bed, a depressible platformpivotally mounted in the track-bed, a frame supported at a point remotefrom said rock-shaft and having a' depressed extremity adjacent to saidrock-shaft, means whereby the depression of said frame may rotate saidrock-shaft to elevate said gate, a

hook-rod carried by said gate, and a member carried by said frameadapted to engage said hook-rod.

3. In a cattle-guard, in combination, a rockshaft disposed transverselyin the track-bed, a gate composed of sections rigidlyattached to saidrock-shaft, a depressible platform disposed in sections corresponding tothe sections of said gate and rotatably mounted upon said rock-shaft,frames disposed respectively beneath the sections of said platform, hubsrigid with said rock-shaft, chains passing over the same and connectingwith said frames, hookrods carried respectively by the sections of saidgate, said hook-rods being adapted to project beneath said platform andadjacent to 7 said frames when said gate is elevated, and memberscarried by said frames adapted to engage said hook-rods.

4. In acattle-guard, in combination, arockshaft, a gate composed ofseparate sections rigidly attached to said rock-shaft, said gatenormally occupying a depressed position in the track-bed, a depressibleplatform rotatably mounted upon said rock-shaft, a plurality of framesbeneath said platform, means for pivotally supporting said frames nearthe extremity of said platform remote from said rock-shaft, chainsattached to the free ends of said frames and adapted to rotate saidrockshaft, hook-rods carried by the outer portion of said gate andnormally projecting over the adjacent extremity of said platform, meansfor guiding said hook-rods through said platform when said gate swingsupwardly, and

' members carried by said frames adapted to engage said hook-rods.-

5. In a cattle-guard, in combination, a rockshaft disposed transverselybeneath the rails in the track, a gate composed of sections rigidlyattached to said rock-shaft, a depressible platizo form rotatablymounted upon said rock-shaft, V

a plurality of frames disposed beneath said platform and having legsconverging toward said rock-shaft, means for supporting the extremitiesof said frames remote from said rock-shaft, said frames beingadapted tosupport said platform, transverse catch-bars carried by said frames,means for rotating said rock-shaft by the depression of said platform,hook-rods carried by said gate-sections, means for guiding the samethrough said platform when the gate-sections swing upwardly, and aspring normally constraining said gate toward a depressed position.

6. In a cattle-guard, in combination, a rockshaft disposed transverselyin the track-bed, a gate composed of sections rigidly attached thereto,a depressible platform rotatably mounted upon said rock-shaft, framestherebelow, means for supporting said frames at a point remote from saidrock-shaft, chains connecting the free extremities of said frames withsaid rock-shaft whereby the depression of said frames may rotate saidrock-shaft, said frames being adapted to support said platform at apoint removed from said rock-shaft, said platform having a plurality oflongitudinally-disposed bars, hook-rods carried by said gate-sections,the extremities whereof normally lie adjacent to spaces between saidbars, transverse members in said spaces adapted to guide said hook-rods,and transverse catchbars carried by said frames cooperating withsaidhook-rods.

In witness whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

HORMIDAS HAMEL.

Witnesses A. GERMAIN, ALFRED PATENAUDE.

